Hugo Chavez

Hugo Chavez (28 July 1954-5 March 2013) was President of Venezuela from 2 February 1999 to 5 March 2013, succeeding Rafael Caldera and preceding Nicolas Maduro. Chavez was elected as the Fifth Republic Movement (MVR) candidate for president in 1998, and he presided over what he called the "Bolivarian Revolution", the transition of the country to socialism and economic independence. Chavez decreased poverty and increased social spending due to the country's oil boom, but his death in 2013 left the incapable Nicolas Maduro in charge of the country.

Biography
Hugo Chavez was born on 28 July 1954 in Sabaneta, Venezuela to two schoolteachers; his family was of mixed mestizo and African descent. The second of seven children, Chavez had a poor but happy childhood, and he was once a Catholic altar boy. In 1971, he entered the Venezuelan Academy of Military Sciences, beginning a long and eventful military career. In 1974, Chavez visited Peru, which was ruled by the socialist ruler Juan Velasco Alvarado at the time. There, Chavez memorized almost all of Velasco's speeches and read all of his books, and he was influenced by his ideals. He also befriended the son of Panamanian dictator Omar Torrijos, and in 1975 he graduated at the head of his class, having progressive ideals. In 1977, he fought against the Maoist Red Flag Party, but he began to have doubts against the army and their torture methods, and he criticized the corruption of the military and civilian government. On 17 December 1982, he formed the Revolutionary Bolivarian Movement-200 (MBR-200), executing the 4 February 1992 coup attempt with assistance from Cuba. However, Carlos Andres Perez's government put down Chavez's coup attempt, and Chavez was jailed. In 1994, President Rafael Caldera freed Chavez, although he banned him from returning to the military. Nevertheless, Chavez' rhetoric gained the support of the Venezuelan Communist Party, Fatherland for All, and Venezuelan Movement for Socialism, and he won 56.20% of the vote in the 1998 elections. On 2 February 1999, he took office as president.

Chavez's presidency was eventful, as he transitioned the country towards socialism in his "Bolivarian Revolution", a revolution based upon Simon Bolivar's views, with a socialist twist. Chavez initially supported Rhenish capitalism in his country and asked for New York Stock Exchange investors to contribute to his cause, but he later moved towards revolutionary socialism. He had 70,000 military personnel repair roads and hospitals, remove stagnant water, offer free medical care and vaccinations, and sell food at low prices. Chavez owned radio and television shows in which he answered the people's questions, sang songs, told jokes, and discussed his policies, making him a unique leader. Chavez also campaigned to end illiteracy, increased social spending to reduce the poverty rates, and made Venezuela the top oil exporter in the world. In 2002, top army officers attempted a coup against Chavez, but the people protested in Chavez's favor, and Pedro Carmona's totalitarian dictatorship was overthrown shortly afterwards, with Chavez returning to the presidency. On 15 December 2006, he formed the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, and the PSUV won elections several times. Chavez won 54% of the votes in the 2012 elections, with the lower classes supporting him in the elections. Unfortunately, his focus on the oil industry led to milk and flour shortages, among other deficits, and corruption rates rose towards the end of his presidency. Chavez died of cancer in 2013, and Nicolas Maduro succeeded him as president.